COVINFORM - Synthesis and lessons learnt on community and citizen responses and impacts

The present deliverable synthesizes the WP6 findings to date in work package 6, focused on citizen and community responses. These findings are presented within the framework of the COVINFORM vulnerability assessment model developed in COVINFORM’s work package WP2 (Risk assessment model to evaluate the response and impact at different geographical Levels) and the social-ecological systems framework (SESF) (Ostrom & McGinnis 2014) adopted in WP3work package 3 (Case study design and evaluation). After reviewing the data collection procedures, which include desk-based and empirical research, it this report maps the CSO interview findings along:

The dimensions of the COVINFORM vulnerability assessment model:
▪ Direct threats and systemic multipliers;
▪ Physical/health, social, economic, and informational vulnerabilities; ▪ Physical/health, social, economic, and environmental consequences; ▪ Two dimensions of resilience: ability to recover and ability to adapt.

The domains of the social-ecological systems framework: ▪ Governance systems;
▪ Resource systems and units;
▪ Actor systems;

▪ Action situations.
The deliverable then draws out lessons learnt based on the above analysis and current literature in

vulnerability assessment and socio-ecological systems theory. In brief, it argues that:

Both CSOs and target groups inherently understand vulnerability as multidimensional, but sometimes assign weights to different dimensions in a manner that diverges from policymakers.
When threats meet vulnerabilities, the effects often cascade across the physical/health, social, economic, and informational domains. These cascades are sometimes difficult to predict. Vulnerabilities and resources alike are often networked. Vulnerabilities in one node in a network can impact other nodes, including across geographical boundaries.

CSOs can act as “bridging organisations” (Folke et al. 2005) that leverage the elements of community to enhance the effectiveness of multilevel governance.

The deliverable concludes by drawing links between the concept of multidimensional vulnerability and the concept of intersectionality, which will be explored during forthcoming interviews with a particular vulnerable group: women with a low socio-economic status.